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With older CRT screens, “Burn in” was when the phosphor coating was effectively “burned off” by the scanning beam. There were many examples of older computer displays that were permanently displaying the WordStart Menu or Lotus 1-2-3 Menus, for example, because people would have them open so long.

This problem was “solved” by LCD displays. But as it happens there is a similar symptom that can occur with IPS displays, it’s just not typically quite as permanent.

A few years ago I got a 2560×1440 IPS Monitor to replace the 1440×900 TN panel I was using. It has served me well, however over time I’ve noticed a “darkening” near the top of the screen. It never matched up with images I would display- my browser or Visual Studio- for extended periods of time, so I figured it was a minor defect. It was not particularly noticable either.

More recently, though, I was able to clearly make out many Firefox icons in precisely the location they are when the Firefox Window is maximized on that screen. This is because on a few occasions I decided not to turn that screen off overnight. The image persists apparently because of electrical changes in the actual cells, which effectively result in it letting less backlight through at the same voltage level.

I’ve already ordered a new monitor, but I’ve had some success at least diminishing the afterimage by leaving a full white screen overnight a few times. (Just a quick Windows Forms program). I’ve also taken to not having Firefox maximized but instead expanded manually to fill the screen but shrunk downwards a bit so the same elements aren’t in the location that was “persisted”.

It’s interesting that the afflictions of yesterday’s technology that were purported to have been solved have at least in some way remained with us. While it allegedly can be fixed (with either a full white or full black screen, depending who you ask), it is certainly something worth avoiding to begin with. I certainly found the behaviour unexpected, thus making this quick little post on the topic.